Jockstraps

History & Types

The consensus is that in 1874, the BIKE Web Company invented the athletic supporter. It quickly becoming known as the" BIKE Jockey Strap" as it was designed originally to support and protect the genitals of the bicycle jockeys who rode the cobbled streets of Boston at that time. Over the years it has come to be known more commonly as the jockstrap or jock.

Athletic jockstraps traditionally come in two styles; with a 1 inch waistband (swimmer style) or 3 inch waistband. The common version has a knit elasticized pouch which helps to control unwanted movement and also to create a snug comfortable fit. Attached to the bottom of the pouch are two straps which pass between the legs, split across the lower buttocks then up the sides to join the waistband, helping to hold the pouch down and in place.

There is also now a thong style jockstrap, similar to the athletic type, but only having one strap attached to the bottom of the pouch, this passes under the crotch, up through the centre of the buttocks attaching to the waistband at the middle of the back. A dance belt is a common name for a thong jock, an undergarment which is often worn by male ballet dancers because various choreographic moves would otherwise produce unfortunate visual distractions, discomfort or even injury. The dance belt is worn to lift the genitalia away from potentially damaging or undesirable movement of the legs. It resembles a thong and is usually worn in a color similar to that of the dancer's skin. This makes it nearly invisible under tights and a leotard. It is also designed so that the elastic rests in depressed areas of the body, so that it does not show up as raised lines.
Some figure skaters, trapeze artists and equestrians also wear dance belts, for reasons that, similarly, include both safety and aesthetics.

Other types of jockstrap include the slingshot that doesn't have any straps attached to the bottom of the pouch, and relies on the testicles to hold it in place…. Not much good in cold climates (think shrinkage), or for active sports as it wouldn't take too much activity to come uncovered. There are also suspensories, similar to the jockstrap in a lot of ways with one main exception; above the pouch that holds the testicles is a hole which you place your penis through so that it hangs free from the constriction of the pouch. This requires some thought control in public to prevent some embarrassment!

Fashion jockstraps come in numerous waistband widths, and the pouches made from a variety of fabrics, anything from a fishnet type weave (which does not leave a lot to the imagination…..) to slinky fabrics such as Silk, Rayon and Lycra. A variety of colours is also available to match your mood.

Jockstrap also come in hard and soft cup varieties as you can see in our photo gallery of jocks. A hard cup is to add protection when playing games using a ball or puck and all contact sports. In most cases the hard cup is an insert that sits in a double walled pouch.

BIKE has now gone on to sell over 300 million of them, and now has several rivals in the business, including Safe-T-Gard and Champion, who sell the traditional "athletic supporter," and other Companies such as N2N Bodywear, Go Softwear, J.M. and Zakk, who produce men's jockstraps as a fashionable and fun clothing accessory. Today some guys wear a jock in preference to undies.